St Nicholas Day

Before we left Khmelnitskyi this morning, for the last leg of our journey back to Lviv, the national anthem was broadcast to the city - by the same siren that's used for air raid warnings. It got snowier and snowier as we travelled west. Basically, the snow hasn't melted since we left as it's still well below freezing: - 4°C with the wind chill taking it down to -10°C. It really was perishing cold.

We stopped at the Wheels of Victory garage in Ternopil to make sure we had the right winter tyres. When the van was lifted up the mechanics found that the rear brake pads had worn out and it wasn't safe to drive any further, and so parts needed to be found.

Whilst we were waiting, we had a discussion with Yaroslav, Wheels of Victory, about a new design of wood burning stove (by  a local man, pictured below) that is compact and very fuel-efficient. Two small pieces of wood will burn for two hours. 

These stoves are cheaper than the ones we've been buying and they come flat-packed, so we could buy more, and also pack more into the van. It's so cold here and millions of Ukrainians have no power or source of heating, so it's essential that we keep looking for the most efficient and effective methods of heating and cooking. Today we've received donations from Trawden Community Shop, which would allow us to purchase a couple of these stoves if we think they are fit for purpose, and take them as part of our next aid run to Mykolaiv/Kherson region in a few days.

Whilst waiting for van parts and a stove demonstration, we were fed a hot, delicious meal, and then Bob was taken to a local doctor as he still has a lingering chest infection. So, as often, plans changed - for the better - and, as always, we're overwhelmed by people's generosity and care.

We discovered that today is St Nicholas Day, an unofficial holiday in Ukraine, which must have been why the roads seemed quieter than usual. Families gather, if they can, and St Nicholas leaves presents under a pillow, or in a sack. A bit like Father Christmas We were given a St Nicholas present in the Wheels of Victory house.

Everything took much longer than anticipated, and we didn't leave Ternopil for the final road home until dark. As it was so cold the sky was incredibly clear and filled with stars. And then we saw it - a missile tracing across the night sky, whether an attacking or defending missile we don't know. It looked horribly benign, almost like the tail of a comet, but not something that we expected, or wanted, to see.

If you can help with a donation please:

1. Open PayPal - name of payee or email: trawden4ukraine@hotmail.com.

or

2. The collection box in Trawden community shop.

Thank you.